What a Way to Go!

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What a Way to Go!

1964,

1h 51m,

Comedy

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31%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

After attempting to donate $200 million to the Internal Revenue Service, Louisa (Shirley MacLaine) finds herself in the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Stephenson (Bob Cummings). She relates the improbable story behind her strange gift. It includes a pair of penniless husbands (Dick Van Dyke, Paul Newman), who build large fortunes before suffering early -- and unusual -- deaths. To break the curse, Louisa weds a millionaire (Robert Mitchum), then a clown (Gene Kelly), without much improvement.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

May 15, 2018

Hard to define but easy to recommend; the 20th-Fox presentation is a funny musical comedy, or comedy with music, with all the glamour that Hollywood can throw into one film, and a high-powered cast to light the marquee.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Jun 17, 2008

2/5

J. Lee Thompson's direction has failed to coalesce a good, firm farce. It lets the whole thing flap wildly -- and that's no way to make a film.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Jun 17, 2008

A big, gaudy, gimmicky comedy which continually promises more than it delivers by way of wit and/or bellylaffs.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 11, 2026

It’s ridiculous and over-the-top in the best possible ways and made me laugh out loud multiple times. It also has an anti-capitalist message and parodies silent films, French New Wave, big budget spectacle, Hollywood romances, and musicals.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Aug 27, 2025

2.5/4

A bit of a misfire that is nonetheless endlessly entertaining...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 9, 2023

3/4

The talents of an incredible group of actors are pooled for this effervescent comedy that was originally conceived as a starring vehicle for Marilyn Monroe.

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Albus P

Mar 13, 2019

I love this movie. Shirley MacLaine outfits are fabulous!

Oct 2, 2018

Jolly good movie with grEat costumes Shirley maclane is young, fashionable and Full of eXpression Paul newman is Humorous, handsome and amusing Theres a lesson to be learned with this movie Enjoyed it very much and made me nostalgic for cinema's past

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J. Lee Thompson

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Louisa May Foster

Paul Newman

Larry Flint

Robert Mitchum

Rod Anderson, Jr.

Dean Martin

Leonard "Lennie" Crawley

Gene Kelly

Pinky Benson

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Synopsis

After attempting to donate $200 million to the Internal Revenue Service, Louisa (Shirley MacLaine) finds herself in the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Stephenson (Bob Cummings). She relates the improbable story behind her strange gift. It includes a pair of penniless husbands (Dick Van Dyke, Paul Newman), who build large fortunes before suffering early -- and unusual -- deaths. To break the curse, Louisa weds a millionaire (Robert Mitchum), then a clown (Gene Kelly), without much improvement.

Director: J. Lee Thompson
Producer: Arthur P. Jacobs
Screenwriter: Gwen Davis, Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Apjac-Orchard Productions
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Runtime: 1h 51m

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